Written Answers Friday 28 January 2005

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding protecting Scottish regional air routes.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive’s response to the UK Government’s consultation on the protection of regional access to London reflects our long-standing view that protection should be on the basis of well defined criteria which recognise Scotland’s peripherality; the economic importance of maintaining access, and that the protection of access should be airport specific.

  The Executive has long taken the view that the role played by the London hub airports should be to the benefit of all of the UK and that Scotland should not be penalised by having to pay extra to maintain access.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or will take, to ensure that Scotland has strong air links with the capitals of Europe.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund has a key objective of improving Scotland’s air connectivity. It aims to develop new direct routes which increase business links and encourage in-bound tourism. The fund supports routes which connect to important regional centres as well as to Europe’s capitals. The fund is investing in 15 new routes to European destinations which have either commenced or will commence in the first half of 2005.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for Scotland’s air links if changes are made to the weight charge formula for airlines.

Nicol Stephen: The European Commission’s Service Provision Regulation, as part of its Single European Sky legislative package, requires the development of a common charging scheme covering all phases of flight for the recovery of costs of the provision of air navigation services. The implementing rule to specify the details of the new charging scheme is under development but has not yet been finalised.

  The Scottish Executive is supporting the UK Government’s continuing pressure on the European Commission to ensure that any adopted common charging regime does not place a disproportionate regulatory burden on domestic and short haul flights such as intra Scotland services.

Air Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is to be offered to Inverness Airport to address issues relating to the PFI contract.

Nicol Stephen: Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) has recently undertaken a full review of the PFI contract at Inverness Airport Terminal and the impact of a buy-out on the airport and the wider economy. With the support of the Executive, HIAL is now seeking to secure the buy-out of the contract. HIAL will be aiming to secure best value for the taxpayer in these sensitive negotiations and an announcement will be made at their conclusion.

Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether a person subject to a closure order under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 can claim housing benefit on the property (a) from which they are excluded and (b) to which they have moved to for the duration of the order.

Hugh Henry: Closure orders are made in respect of premises, not individuals. When considering an application for such an order the sheriff is required to consider the vulnerability of anyone living in the premises in question. The issue of housing benefit is likely to be one of the matters that would be taken into account. Any entitlement to housing benefit is a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions and further information can be obtained from that department.

  We have issued guidance to police and local authorities that prior to making an application for a closure order in respect of premises where people live, the police should liaise with the local authority about financial vulnerability, particularly where children or vulnerable people may be affected, and consider alternative options available.

Autism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the needs of (a) children and (b) adults with autistic spectrum disorders who have gastrointestinal disorders.

Rhona Brankin: It is recognised that gastrointestinal disorders are amongst the health concerns of people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Three strands of activity addressing this are: a conference on medical interventions; a draft quality standard for ASD diagnosis, and the SIGN Council’s Guideline on assessment, diagnosis and interventions for children and young people with ASD.

Autism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given to clinical (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists on diagnosing autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).

Rhona Brankin: Through the implementation of the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report, the ASD Reference Group’s diagnostic subgroup is currently considering a range of training opportunities to improve autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis across Scotland, with particular reference to psychiatric and psychological input.

Bridges

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement regarding the Skye Bridge tolls and, if so, when; whether it will provide the Parliament with a detailed explanation for any such statement, in particular including the calculation of any payment to be made to buy out the owners of the PFI in respect of the Skye Bridge; whether any such statement will be made (a) before or (b) during the Christmas recess, and, if such a statement is made in the Parliament, whether it envisages that there will be an opportunity for members to question the ministers for transport and finance and public services.

Nicol Stephen: The tolling regime on the Skye Bridge was ended on 21 December 2004. The Parliament was informed in response to question S2W-12790 also on that day, which was before the Christmas recess. The final payment to Skye Bridge Ltd (SBL) is expected to be around £27 million, and will be known when the audited accounts of SBL to 31 December 2004 are prepared. We anticipate that this will be in February, after which we will publish the termination agreement between the Executive and Skye Bridge Ltd.

Bridges

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to Highland Council to assist with the maintenance of all bridges in its area.

Nicol Stephen: Funding for local roads and bridges forms part of the general Local Government Finance settlement. As part of this Highland Council will receive above inflation increases in revenue support of £18.8 million (5.3%), £19.5 million (5.2%) and £10.9 million (2.8%) over 2005-06 to 2007-08. It is for the council to decide how this funding is spent.

Carers

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in monitoring the number of carers’ assessments, including young carers’ assessments, being carried out in each local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: From January 2005, local authorities are being required for the first time to record the number of carers’ assessments, including young carers’ assessments, being carried out. The first returns of information will be made to the Scottish Executive in April 2005, and thereafter figures will be collected annually.

Carers

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are national standards in respect of carers’ assessments and whether it has any plans to introduce a single, standardised carers’ assessment form across Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to introduce a standardised assessment form for either users’ or carers’ assessments. We are, however, developing national minimum information standards for the data in these assessments, which will provide a consistent approach across the country. The standard for older people was issued in December 2004. We expect to cover all other groups, including carers, later this year.

Civil Servants

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the UK Department of Trade and Industry, or any other UK government department, on plans to disperse posts from London to elsewhere in the United Kingdom and, if so, whether it will give details.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has not been consulted directly by the UK Department of Trade and Industry, or any other UK Government Department, on plans to disperse civil service posts from London. However, I have been assured that the UK Government is keen to see a share of the posts relocated from London and South East England coming to Scotland.

  Specific decisions about the deployment of civil service staff in UK departments are an operational matter for the department concerned.

  Scottish Development International (SDI) is in discussion with individual UK Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and industry, about specific projects as part of its role to attract high quality jobs and investment to Scotland. SDI keeps Scottish Executive ministers fully informed of developments.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that community consultation is conducted as effectively as possible and is seen as a priority over the need to meet short deadlines.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland is currently developing National Standards for Community Engagement. These have been developed in a highly participatory way involving people from communities, the voluntary sector and statutory agencies. They set out good practice in engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services, including the need to agree timescales for engagement. The final version of the standards will be available in the near future.

Dentistry

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a statement on the actions it plans to take following the completion in 2004 of the consultation, Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: We now expect to make the Executive response in the coming weeks.

Dentistry

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it considers acceptable for a person to wait before receiving non-emergency treatment from an NHS dentist; how many people have not received treatment within this timescale in each of the last five years, and what action it is taking to ensure that people can receive such treatment from an NHS dentist within this timescale.

Rhona Brankin: Acceptable waiting times for non-emergency dental treatment are subject to individual patient needs and are dependent on a range of factors including patient age, previous dental disease levels and future risks, and existing levels of oral self care.

  No information is held on the timescale patients require to wait before receiving non-emergency treatment.

  The Executive has introduced a range of measures over the last few years aimed at the recruitment and retention of dentists within NHS general dental services and is currently considering its response to the consultation Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland.

Environment

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the implementation of the EU ambient noise directive 2002/49/EC.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12955, on 10 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Environment

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has earmarked for the implementation of the EU ambient noise directive 2002/49/EC.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has earmarked funding of up to £0.8 million per year over the period 2005 to 2008 to implement the directive.

Environment

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what redress under the EU ambient noise directive 2002/49/EC will be available to households in the vicinity of the proposed M74 northern extension which are affected by increased noise levels.

Nicol Stephen: EU directive 2002/49/EC does not make any specific provision for redress. Provisions exist within the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulations 1975 for the payment of grants towards noise insulation of eligible buildings where noise levels during construction or operation exceed certain specified levels. Claims for loss of property value resulting from the road can be made under the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973.

Ferry Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will be incurred as a result of any failure to tender the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services; how any such costs are calculated, and what information it has on any costs being incurred by other EU member states in respect of lifeline ferry services in areas where opportunities for competition between ferry operators is limited or non-existent.

Nicol Stephen: If the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services were not tendered and the  European Court of Justice were subsequently to find that such an action was in breach of EU rules the consequences could be severe. In particular, following on from such a ruling, the Commission could order the immediate cessation of subsidy to Caledonian MacBrayne and that the Executive recover from Caledonian MacBrayne all subsidy that had been declared to be illegal state aid.

  I understand that all member states with lifeline ferry services have either tendered them, are in the process of doing so or are in discussion with the Commission about how to bring those services into line with EU rules.

  In relation to Public Service Obligations the Commission investigated, in 1998, aid given to the Spanish state owned ferry company Trasmediterranea (Trasmed). When the Commission began the investigation it required the Spanish authorities to suspend payment of state aid to Trasmed until the Commission’s examination of the case had been concluded. The case took three years to complete at which time the Commission found that the tender process had been flawed and breached the non-discrimination principle. Following the investigation, Spain was obliged by the Commission to terminate the existing contract with Trasmed, to suspend any payment of aid and to comply with the Cabotage Regulation in respect of any successor contract. The Commission also required that any subsequent contract enter into force "only after adequate time and publicity have been given to allow all Community shipping companies a fair opportunity to prepare their bids".

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12417 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2004, whether it will implement the recommendation of the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health (SPCERH) that the upper age limit for accessing NHS-funded infertility treatment should be 41.

Rhona Brankin: We are currently considering a number of issues related to accessing infertility services, including the recommendations from SPCERH. If any changes are proposed we will ensure full public consultation.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12415 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2004, whether the review of infertility services will be subject to public consultation.

Rhona Brankin: Any changes to the current access criteria for NHS funded infertility treatment will be subject to public consultation.

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider including infertility treatment in the waiting times guarantee, given the implications of the exclusion of women from such treatment at the age of 38.

Rhona Brankin: We have no plans to include infertility treatment in the waiting times guarantee at this time.

Flooding

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what practical help it intends to provide to help people in Stirlingshire who have been affected by recent flooding events.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive recognises the misery and distress flooding can bring and has, therefore, ensured that local authorities have the powers and resources necessary to reduce flood risk and to address flood prevention. It is also local authorities that lead on practical recovery measures, co-ordinating the work of local agencies, local responders being best placed to address and decide upon local priorities.

Flooding

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will request the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to provide technical advice on appropriate flood prevention measures to people in the Mid Scotland and Fife region who are affected by flooding.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) already provides technical advice to local authorities in connection with flood prevention. It also provides practical advice to the public on flood risk and what to do before, during and after a flood via the 24 hour Floodline 0845 988 1188. SEPA will also provide information in response to public queries on flood risk areas and properties, and has published a booklet giving details of flood alleviation products. This information is also available via the SEPA website www.sepa.org.uk .

Further Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent during the current financial year by each of the three intermediate technology institutes; whether it anticipates that the institutes will underspend their £15 million budgets and, if so, by how much, and how any monies resulting from any underspend will be reallocated within the enterprise network budgets.

Allan Wilson: Questions relating to spend by the Intermediary Technology Institutes are an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

General Register Office for Scotland

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the Vital Events data, provided by the General Register Office for Scotland, broken down by calendar month and week.

Tavish Scott: The General Register Office for Scotland is currently reviewing the range of statistical information made available on its website. One outcome of this review is likely to be the inclusion of regularly updated provisional information on birth and death registrations. Though the precise details have yet to be finalised, it is expected that weekly and monthly counts will both be provided.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will scrutinise the role of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network in relation to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of its audit of the treatment and care of children with ADHD.

Rhona Brankin: The role of SIGN will not form part of the audit,   however the results of the audit may help SIGN in making a decision about when it would be appropriate to review and revise the guideline.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the audit by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland of the care and treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will commence and what its remit and duration will be.

Rhona Brankin: The audit is being planned at present, and the appointment of staff to undertake the work will take place in the spring of 2005. The remit will be to take the recommendations and the good practice points listed in the guideline and compare them with practice in the field.

  Quality Improvement Scotland estimate that it will take up to two years to complete.

Health

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients prescribed stoma devices have a choice of the available devices or are restricted to a single specified device and, if they are so restricted, how the particular device is chosen and how often the device is reviewed.

Rhona Brankin: The choice of device and frequency of review is a matter for the clinical discretion of the prescriber. Patients who are prescribed stoma devices may present the prescription to any NHS community pharmacy or appliance supplier of their choice.

  Current arrangements have been the subject of review and consultation and detail on the way forward now decided upon by the Executive is provided in the answer to S2W-13447, answered on 28 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prescription of stoma appliances is under review and, if so, what aspects of the provision of such appliances are being reviewed and what options are under consideration.

Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the question S2W-6327, answered on  8 March 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Following the consultation, the Executive has decided, subject to enactment of the relevant provisions of the Smoking, Health and Community Care (Scotland) Bill in their present form, to discontinue from April 2006 the option of supply of appliances on a prescription basis directly from appliance contractors. From that date, appliances would be supplied at health board discretion by either an enhanced prescription led service with prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacy contractors or provision of a locally contracted service with appropriate providers, which might include existing appliance suppliers. In both cases the service will be provided through staff suitably qualified to assess patients’ needs directly answerable to the NHS board, and will be the subject of common service standards that will be developed in conjunction with stakeholders.

  Further details are provided in the letter of 11 January 2005 to the convenor of the Health Committee from the Minister of Health and Community Care, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35131).

Hepatitis

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to identify how many prison inmates are infected with hepatitis C and how many inmates are infected in each prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  An anonymous study was carried out by the Scottish Centre for the Infection of Environmental Health (SCIEH) at HM Prison, Shotts in 2001 which indicated a prevalence of 20% of the population being infected with hepatitis C.

  The SPS expects these figures broadly represent the prison population. Figures in individual establishments are not known.

Justice

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 8 November 2004, what powers are granted to landowners, occupiers, gamekeepers and servants under the Game (Scotland) Act 1832 and whether these powers are consistent with its criminal justice policies and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tavish Scott: The Game (Scotland) Act 1832 makes it an offence for any person entering or being, in the daytime, upon any land, without leave of the proprietor, in search or pursuit of game, or woodcock, snipe, wild ducks or conies (rabbits). Landowners, occupiers, gamekeepers, or any servants or any person authorised by them may request that the trespasser quit the land, provide their name and address and relinquish possession of the game if requested.

  If the poacher refuses to provide this information, the act also provides power for the landowner, occupier, gamekeeper, or any servants or any person authorised by them to apprehend the offender and convey him to the Justice of the Peace. Either the owner or the occupier or the Procurator Fiscal may prosecute and a conviction may proceed on the evidence of a single witness.

  The Executive considers that the Game (Scotland) Act 1832 provides a legal basis for a form of detention which is not considered disproportionate or arbitrary under the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Justice

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the timescale for responses to the consultation on the reform of civil advice and assistance is less than 12 weeks.

Hugh Henry: These proposals have already been the subject of separate discussion with key stakeholders. The timescale of less than 12 weeks for general consultation has been set to allow proper consideration of responses in time for the introduction of regulatory changes in April 2005.

Justice

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a database exists which allows traffic police from different police forces to share information on serious traffic offences.

Cathy Jamieson: There is no central database dedicated to serious traffic offences. However, the Scottish Criminal Record Office Criminal History System stores conviction information from Scottish courts including for traffic offences. This enables forces across Scotland to check conviction information for any individual stopped for a motoring offence.

Justice

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5639 on 3 February 2004 by Cathy Jamieson, what the total transportation costs were for judges for 2003-04.

Cathy Jamieson: The cost of the car hire service conveying judges on circuit was £194,100 in the financial year 2003-04. In addition, judges may use public transport or private car to undertake journeys for which actual costs or standard mileage rates (agreed with the Inland Revenue) are reimbursed. Information on the expenditure in these categories is not held centrally and the cost of collating it would exceed the upper limit under the freedom of information arrangements.

Local Government

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of directors in local authorities were women in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by local authority.

Tavish Scott: This information is not held centrally. Information held by the Executive on local government staffing matters is contained in the Joint Staffing Watch which is published on a quarterly basis and is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/jointstaffingwatch .

Local Government

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of directors in local authorities were registered disabled people in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by local authority.

Tavish Scott: This information is not held centrally. Information held by the Executive on local government staffing matters is contained in the Joint Staffing Watch which is published on a quarterly basis and is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/jointstaffingwatch .

Ministerial Responsibilities

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which minister has responsibility for European and external affairs following the reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities on 5 October 2004.

Mr Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-11442, on 24 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Mortality

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many premature deaths there were in rural areas in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Tavish Scott: There is no standard definition of premature deaths. The information presented in the table covers deaths under 75 years of age.

  Premature1 Deaths in Rural2 Areas, Scotland, 1999-2003

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Scotland
4,132
4,155
3,895
3,911
3,960


Aberdeen City
12
14
16
10
12


Aberdeenshire
432
423
396
415
400


Angus
132
120
103
113
104


Argyll and Bute
233
243
194
211
207


Clackmannanshire
32
22
21
22
26


Dumfries and Galloway
332
323
294
294
331


Dundee City
7
11
14
8
8


East Ayrshire
178
166
169
145
170


East Dunbartonshire
40
27
34
33
31


East Lothian
101
96
80
92
98


East Renfrewshire
16
19
18
24
14


Edinburgh, City of
20
34
24
19
20


Eilean Siar
112
104
101
97
112


Falkirk
57
68
52
74
65


Fife
305
302
279
304
287


Glasgow City
17
13
12
17
15


Highland
483
510
493
476
465


Inverclyde
27
32
26
28
34


Midlothian
71
72
71
63
60


Moray
130
150
153
147
128


North Ayrshire
62
74
80
76
67


North Lanarkshire
149
140
138
124
139


Orkney Islands
61
43
48
48
49


Perth and Kinross
236
240
232
251
211


Renfrewshire
65
67
58
53
55


Scottish Borders
215
234
192
191
222


Shetland Islands
46
52
55
49
66


South Ayrshire
113
123
124
112
142


South Lanarkshire
178
163
160
167
160


Stirling
137
144
143
145
142


West Dunbartonshire
6
2
7
4
3


West Lothian
127
124
108
99
117



  Notes:

  1. Deaths under 75 years of age.

  2. As defined in the Scottish Executive urban/rural classification i.e. areas containing settlements of less than 3,000 people. (A few such areas occur even in predominantly urban communities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow).

People with Disabilities

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the provision of NHS wheelchair services from initial assessment to upkeep and upgrade.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has commissioned a national needs assessment to look at possible options for redesign of the NHS wheelchair service. The aim of the review, which will report in the spring of 2006, is to provide a plan for improved NHS wheelchair service provision across the whole of Scotland. The review will identify the needs of people using the service and make recommendations in consultation with stakeholders on how the service might be improved.

  We also plan to take interim measures to reduce waiting times. Work on this is now being progressed in consultation with the five Scottish Wheelchair Centres and NHS boards and we will announce these measures shortly.

Police

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers of the Tayside force were assigned to the functions (a) uniformed, (b) mobile support, (c) CID, (d) drugs and (e) headquarters in each year from 1994 to 2004.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Tayside Police.

Police

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults were reported against police officers in each year from 1994 to 2004, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is shown in the following table.

  Total Number of Assaults on Police Officers

  

Force
Central
Dumfries and Galloway
Fife
Grampian
Lothian and Borders
Northern
Strathclyde
Tayside
Total


Year
 


1994
210
149
200
427
328
216
7,736
496
9,762


1995
262
174
233
485
373
188
8,035
322
10,072


1995-96
262
174
233
485
373
188
8,035
322
10,072


1996-97
204
112
233
n/k
191
190
8,892
330
10,152


1997-1998
241
86
257
259
172
202
8,609
329
10,155


1998-99
234
47
55
172
264
194
8,970
204
10,140


1999-2000
267
14
53
68
304
215
n/k
276
 


2000-01
42
11
9
279
299
223
n/k
270
 


2001-02
404
111
56
76
313
236
n/k
14
 


2002-03
407
176
381
238
269
249
n/k
117
 


2003-04
873
448
58
316
41
n/k
n/k
153
 



  Source: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s Annual Statistical Returns (ASRs) from police forces. Until 1995, information was supplied at 31 December each year and subsequently provided at 31 March.

  nk: not known/no data supplied.

Residential Care

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7679 by Hugh Henry on 6 May 2004, what the most recent figures are for the number of advisory visits made by the fire service to registered care homes and, of these, how many were reported to the Care Commission by the fire service as being unsatisfactory, broken down by fire brigade.

Hugh Henry: The eight Scottish Fire Brigades have confirmed that they have completed visits to all eligible registered care home premises as set out in the table.

  

Brigade
Number of Visits


Central Scotland Fire Brigade
84


Dumfries and Galloway Fire Brigade 
71


Fife Fire and Rescue Service
123


Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
255


Highland and Islands Fire Brigade
157


Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade
256


Strathclyde Fire Brigade
643


Tayside Fire Brigade
164


Total
1,753



  This represents approximately 97% of care premises registered by the Care Commission in Scotland. The remaining 3% were not visited because they no longer offer overnight residential care, have closed, or have had some other change in status which means they did not require a visit. In approximately 76% of the visits, reports were raised about potential fire hazards but these were mainly of a minor nature. The Care Commission has moved to formal enforcement action in only one case. However, for all visits which resulted in reports being raised, the Care Commission wrote to the care provider requiring them to complete an action plan within 10 days detailing the remedial action to be taken.

Road Accidents

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) serious accidents and (b) fatalities have occurred on the A77 between Kilmarnock and Newton Mearns in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:

  

Year
Serious Accidents
Fatalities


1999
12
0


2000
5
0


2001
2
2


2002
3
3


2003
5
1


2004*
2
3



  Note: *2004 figures cover period to 31 October 2004 only.

Road Accidents

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) serious accidents and (b) fatalities have occurred on the A77 between Ayr and Stranraer in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:

  

Year
Serious Accidents
Fatalities


1999
21
2


2000
16
2


2001
12
0


2002
20
3


2003
9
7


2004*
9
5



  Note: *2004 figures cover period to 31 October 2004 only.

Scottish Executive Consultations

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultations it has carried out since July 1999 and what action it has taken in light of any responses received.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has issued 904 consultations between July 1999 and mid January 2005. The Executive is committed to consultation as an important way of involving people and organisations in the policy making process. Consultation on specific policy issues ensures that a wide range of views and experiences are taken into account in formulating policies, and provides an opportunity for all those with an interest in an issue to make a contribution. For all exercises, the responses received (or views put forward in consultation events) are analysed and considered along with other relevant evidence and information in reaching a final policy decision.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of administrating its Health Department in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Actual administration costs of the Health Department were as follows:

  (£ Million)

  

Year
Outturn


1999-2000
10.2


2000-01
11.5


2001-02
13.0


2002-03
14.0


2003-04
15.3



  During that five year period the annual budget for the Health Department increased by £4.7 million, of which £2.7 million was provided for increases arising from annual pay settlements. Additional funding was received to create an Older People's Unit, for the creation of the Centre for Change and Innovation team which is spearheading the modernisation agenda and a change in working practices to drive down waiting times and improve efficiency. Resources were provided to strengthen the Human Resources Directorate which is responsible for implementing the Pay Modernisation Agenda and workforce planning which has resulted in the New Deal for Junior Doctors, Consultant Contract’s, General Medical Service’s Contract and Agenda for Change. Funding was also provided to increase staff within the Health Improvement Directorate to enable the department to implement the commitments in the Partnership Agreement in relation to health improvement and in improving the health of people in Scotland. Additional resources were required within Community Care Division to support the implementation of Free Personal Care for the Elderly which has benefited 75,000 elderly people and within Mental Health Division to support the introduction of a the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) Scotland Act 2003 and the establishment of the new Mental Health Tribunal.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing legislation to extend the powers of the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman.

Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently progressing proposals, by way of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill, to provide the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman with powers to consider complaints about further and higher education bodies.

Sustainable Development

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance issued to Scottish Water on sustainable development is made available to the Water Industry Commissioner.

Lewis Macdonald: The Water Services etc. (Scotland) Bill will require the Water Industry Commission to have regard to any guidance issued to Scottish Water. The Executive is currently revising the guidance on sustainable development to incorporate changes in legislation proposed under the Bill. Scottish Water, the Water Industry Commissioner and the Water Customer Consultation Panels are being consulted.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it expects the roadworks provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Bill to bring; how these benefits will be measured, and how it will demonstrate the effectiveness of these provisions.

Nicol Stephen: The road works provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Bill are intended to improve the planning, co-ordination and execution of utility company road works in Scotland. The Scottish Road Works Commissioner will monitor the effectiveness of the new arrangements and the Executive will continue to liaise closely with the Roads Authorities and Utilities Committee Scotland (RAUC(S)) on all related matters.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the costs for utilities of the roadworks provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

Nicol Stephen: There should be no additional cost to utility companies if they work within the legislative framework.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made in respect of any impact on fuel poverty of costs incurred by utility companies under the Transport (Scotland) Bill being passed on to the consumer.

Nicol Stephen: There should be no additional costs incurred by utility companies operating within the provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Bill and therefore there should be no impact on fuel poverty.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the impact of the roadworks provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Bill on urban regeneration.

Nicol Stephen: The provisions within the Transport (Scotland) Bill are intended to improve the quality and co-ordination of utilities road works. There will be no direct impact on urban regeneration.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the Transport (Scotland) Bill will be on utilities’ infrastructure investment programmes, including water and gas mains replacement and renewal and upgrading of electricity cables.

Nicol Stephen: Provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Bill should benefit utility companies’ investment programmes by improving the planning and co-ordination of road works.

Vulnerable Adults Bill

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a Vulnerable Adults Bill.

Rhona Brankin: Some preparatory work for a Vulnerable Adults Bill has been completed, and we will consult on further elements of a bill soon.

Water Services

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12862 by Lewis McDonald on 16 December 2004, in circumstances where Scottish Water and the owners of property, in this case a local authority, cannot co-operate to identify the source of a leak and repair it, who will decide who is responsible.

Lewis Macdonald: The responsibilities for the repair of water pipes and sewerage pipes are set out in Water (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, and the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended. In the event of an unresolved dispute, it is a matter for the aggrieved parties to seek legal advice.

Weeds Act 1959

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints it has received in each of the last five years regarding injurious weeds listed in the Weeds Act 1959, in total and broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: The number of sites referred to in complaints received in each of the last five years regarding injurious weeds listed in the Weeds Act 1959, in total and broken down by local authority area is shown in the following table:

  

Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Total


Aberdeen City
0
0
0
0
0
0


Aberdeenshire
10
13
44
11
6
84


Angus
0
6
7
1
0
14


Argyll and Bute
1
1
2
3
3
10


Clackmannanshire
2
1
1
0
0
4


Dumfries and Galloway
3
0
2
0
5
10


Dundee City
0
1
0
0
1
2


East Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
2
0
2


East Lothian
1
0
0
0
1
2


East Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


City of Edinburgh
2
4
3
1
0
10


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
0
0


Falkirk
3
0
0
7
0
10


Fife
5
4
3
2
7
21


Glasgow City
0
0
0
0
0
0


Highland
5
10
8
8
4
35


Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
0
0


Midlothian
1
1
1
4
2
9


Moray
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Lanarkshire
0
0
1
0
0
1


Orkney Islands
0
0
0
2
2
4



  

Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Total


Perth and Kinross
4
2
1
6
7
20


Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Scottish Borders
0
0
0
2
12
14


Shetland Islands
0
0
0
0
0
0


South Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


South Lanarkshire
0
1
1
1
2
5


Stirling
1
0
0
0
2
3


West Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
1
1


West Lothian
0
1
0
0
1
2


Total
38
45
74
50
56
263



  Individual complaints may refer to more than one site.

Weeds Act 1959

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many animals have died from ragwort poisoning in the last five years.

Ross Finnie: The Executive does not collect information on the number of animals which die from ragwort poisoning.

  Disease surveillance is carried out by the Scottish Agricultural College Disease Surveillance Centres. I have asked the college to contact the member direct about this matter.

Weeds Act 1959

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many enforcement orders it has served in each of the last five years in respect of each of the injurious weeds identified in the Weeds Act 1959.

Ross Finnie: No enforcement orders have been served over the last five years in respect of spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock or broad-leaved dock.

  The number of enforcement orders served in each of the last five years in respect of ragwort is shown in the table below.

  

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


0
0
1
1
2

Weeds Act 1959

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many enforcement orders it has served over the last five years in respect of each of the injurious weeds identified in the Weeds Act 1959, broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: No enforcement orders have been served over the last five years in respect of spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock or broad-leaved dock.

  The number of enforcement orders served over the last five years in respect of ragwort, broken down by local authority area, is shown in the following table.

  

 Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Total


Aberdeen City
0
0
0
0
0
0


Aberdeenshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Angus
0
0
0
0
0
0


Argyll and Bute
0
0
0
0
0
0


Clackmannanshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
1
0
0
1


Dundee City
0
0
0
0
0
0


East Ayrshire
0
0
0
1
0
1


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


East Lothian
0
0
0
0
0
0


East Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


City of Edinburgh
0
0
0
0
0
0


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
1
1


Falkirk
0
0
0
0
0
0


Fife
0
0
0
0
0
0


Glasgow City
0
0
0
0
0
0


Highland
0
0
0
0
0
0


Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
0
0


Midlothian
0
0
0
0
0
0


Moray
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Lanarkshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Orkney Islands
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth and Kinross
0
0
0
0
0
0


Renfrewshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


Scottish Borders
0
0
0
0
0
0


Shetland Islands
0
0
0
0
0
0


South Ayrshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


South Lanarkshire
0
0
0
0
1
1


Stirling
0
0
0
0
0
0


West Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
0
0


West Lothian
0
0
0
0
0
0


Total
0
0
1
1
2
4

Young Carers

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide further support to young carers.

Rhona Brankin: Under our Carers Strategy a range of steps have been taken to help improve the support available to young carers. Amongst other things, this has delivered a marked increase in the number of projects supporting young carers, which have risen from 23 in 1999 to 52 in 2004. I recognise, however, that more needs to be done to meet the needs of young carers. I will be meeting carer representatives in the spring to discuss this issue in more detail and to consider whether a national Young Carers Strategy is needed. We will also consult young carers and other stakeholders about the way ahead.

Young Offenders

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been reported for committing 10 or more offences in each of the last five years and this year to date and, in respect of these offences, how many disposals there were in each year.

Euan Robson: The number of children referred for 10 or more offence grounds was reported in Scottish Children's Reporter Administration annual reports as 785 (2000-01), 797 (2001-02) and 904 (2002-03). The reports can be found at www.scra.gov.uk .

  Information about the number of disposals made for these children has not been collected centrally.

  At the end of 2002, a persistent young offender was defined as a young person reported for five offending episodes within six months. While the figure of 904 for the period up to 31 March 2003 was calculated on the original methodology, thereafter in subsequent financial years the number referred for 10 or more offending episodes has not been collated.